Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!pmafire!uudell!milano!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!psuvax1!psuvm!q8n
From: Q8N@psuvm.psu.edu (Scott D. Camp)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: BLATANT ADVERTISING!! Try Nisus ;-)
Message-ID: <90335.204230Q8N@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: 2 Dec 90 01:42:30 GMT
References: <14864.9011201902@s4.sys.uea.ac.uk> <4088@network.ucsd.edu>
 <1990Nov28.145957.10136@rodan.acs.syr.edu> <4098@network.ucsd.edu>
Organization: Penn State University
Lines: 76

In article <4098@network.ucsd.edu>, jon@weber.ucsd.edu (Jon Matousek) says:
>
>
>I am interested in finding out what other folks on the net think? My intention
>is to inform, not to offend. If you consider my postings offensive, then tell
>me how I can continue to inform the folks who are interested in knowing more
>about Nisus.
>
>-jOn

I think many of the responses to Jon's question have been misguided as is Jon's
original question. Jon was responding to a post that questioned whether his
'advertising' was a violation of net etiquette.

The question becomes whether or not Jon's postings constitute advertising. It
is not whether or not they are useful to some (or even many) people. If we
assume that many of Jon's postings do constitute advertising, then they are
indeed in violation of the stated goals of the net (see below). Again, this is
true whether or not people find the postings useful. (As I have noted to Jon in
private e-mail, I do often find his postings useful.)

Let me quote part of a recent posting that appeared here at Penn State as part
of the guidelines for using CREN (or bitnet as it is better known). While I
realize that these rules only govern CREN members, I would assume that other
nets have similar rules. Let me also state that I do not necessarily agree with
these rules though I am bound to work within them as a user of CREN.

********** CREN POSTING STARTS ************

CREN Information Center               CREN NET_USE             October 3, 1990
Suite 600, 1112 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036      (202) 872-4200


            Corporation for Research and Educational Networking

                        Acceptable Use Policy

     CREN networks are for the use of persons legitimately affiliated with
CREN Member or Affiliate organizations, to facilitate the exchange of
information consistent with the academic, educational and research purposes
of its members.  All individuals affiliated with CREN Member or Affiliate
organizations are responsible for seeing that their communities are aware
of these guidelines, and that the guidelines are followed, both in letter
and in spirit.

[stuff deleted]

         * Advertising is forbidden.  Discussion of a product's relative
           advantages and disadvantages by users of the product is
           encouraged.  Vendors may respond to questions about their
           products as long as the responses are not in the nature of
           advertising.

[stuff deleted]

********CREN POSTING ENDS*************

It would seem to me that Jon's responses to Word questions by pointing out
the merits of Nisus violates the rule included above. However, I'm certainly
not an expert on this topic and would welcome other comments. As I noted
earlier, the real question is whether or not Jon's posts constitute advertising
If they do then he is violating the use of CREN as his postings are
appearing here. (Again, I don't know the technicalities of usenet or how
posts on one net that are picked up by another are supposed to be governed,
etc.)

Anyway, maybe this will provide some food for thought on this much discussed
thread.

By the way, if anyone wants a copy of the full post on CREN, let me know.

Scott D. Camp   Q8N@PSUVM.PSU.EDU
The Pennsylvania State University
305 Oswald Tower
University Park, PA  16802
814-863-0121